This August, we held a series of workshops focused on the Positive Youth Development in Aotearoa (PYDA) framework, specifically tailored for parents. The PYDA is grounded in both local and international research, combined with the real-life experiences of young people. While it’s often used by professionals and volunteers working with young people, parents and caregivers were always central to its vision. After all, the idea is that everyone involved in a young person’s life—whether at home, school, or in the community—speaks the same language and follows a shared, evidence-based approach. This consistency helps ensure young people receive the same positive, empowering messages no matter where they are.
At the heart of the PYDA framework are two key outcomes, or goals, that guide our work with young people: Developing the Whole Person and Building Connected Communities. In essence, we aim to support the development and well-being of young people by nurturing them as whole individuals. Every person in their lives plays a different yet overlapping role in this process. Just as importantly, we focus on contributing to healthy, connected communities because it’s within these communities that young people thrive.
The framework also includes three key approaches that outline how we work with young people. These approaches are:
- Strengths-based: Focusing on young people's talents, interests, relationships and potential as a way to build a positive self-identity and belonging.
- Respectful relationships: Cultivating trust and demonstrating respect to create the right environment for healthy development.
- Ownership and empowerment: Encouraging young people to feel ownership over their lives and decisions, take responsibility and feel confident in their choices.
In our parenting workshops, we focus primarily on these three approaches.
When professionals work with young, their primary responsibility is to foster development—that’s their job. But as parents, we juggle a hundred different things: feeding, cleaning, coordinating schedules, and ensuring our kids are in the right places at the right times. Most parents already aspire to use strengths-based approaches, build respectful relationships, and empower their children, but the daily grind can make it hard to focus on these ideals. There’s so much pressure—whether it’s about time, societal expectations, family influences, or ensuring our kids grow into kind, capable adults.
In our workshops, we take a step back to explore these approaches more deeply. We look at what they mean in practical terms, explore the latest research supporting them, and discuss how they can be applied at home. Parents often realise they’re already using these strategies without knowing it. We help them build on those strengths and find ways to be more intentional about using them in the future.
What stands out from these workshops is the power of shared experiences. Parents have so much wisdom, and when they talk with one another, they share practical tips and strategies that others can easily adopt. It’s not about introducing a radical new way to parent; it’s about reflecting on what’s already working and finding ways to do more of it—more often and more consciously.
In the end, the PYDA framework offers a reminder that great parenting is about being intentional. It encourages us to think about those moments when things are going well and to ask ourselves how we can create more of those moments in the future. By focusing on our strengths and being mindful of how we engage with our children, we can help them grow into well-rounded, empowered individuals who are connected to their communities.
To learn more about the trainings we offer click here.
